Day Sixty One

9:23 PM

Don slept well last night. After breakfast our friend that built Don's ramp at our house came by to check on him. Donnie Lee also came by before going to work. After their visit the CNA got Don dressed and ready for lunch. We made it to the day room about 11:50. Don's parents called to say they were in town and wanted to know if Don wanted anything for lunch. He had them pick him up a burger and fries. It was a good thing because when his lunch tray came he didn't want anything except the peas and pie off of it. After lunch we went to therapy. It was assessment day again so his OT spent some time re-evaluating him. He hadn't mad much improvement this week on his arms/hands. He had e-stim on his arms and did his arm exercises. When OT was finished PT started with a few leg exercises and then he had e-stim on his legs. After that the PT began to work on his stomach muscles so that he would be ready for standing. Don's first time standing today was awesome! He stood for 10 minutes. His PT asked him if he thought he could try to take a step and he tried but he said that his arms just weren't strong enough to take a step. After resting for a few minutes they got him up again. This time he stood for 7 minutes. While Don was resting this time, his PT adjusted his walker and wanted Don to try to stand one more time to see if the adjustments were correct. Don was so pleased with the adjustments he just started leaning on his arms and moving his good leg forward. He walked 7 feet. The whole staff was thrilled. I will try to explain what it takes for Don to be able to do this. Don's walked is a platform walker - meaning that his left side has a place made to lay his left arm in and then a grip in front of the "platform" for his hand to hold. The right side is a typical walker. In order to get up out of his wheelchair, the PT stands in front of Don and Don wraps his arms around the PT's neck and Don pushes with his good leg and between the two of them Don manages to stand. Once he has his balance the PT moves to Don's left side and pulls Don's walker in front of Don so that he can position himself "in" the walker so to speak. To move, Don must put all his weight on this left arm and right hand to be able to shuffle his good right leg enough to make it move forward. Don had gotten a little discouraged during PT today and was almost in tears. I noticed the change in his face and asked him what was wrong. He was curling a one pound hand weight over his shoulder. He said he was just thinking how pitiful it was that it had come to this because he used to through 50 pound bags over each shoulder at one time with no problem. We all tried to assure him that he would eventually build back up to that and to take it one step at a time. After making his 7 foot walk, he was so pleased and different folks asked him how it felt he said it felt great and that he was really tired. He was so happy. PT was over at 4:00 and Don was very tired and he doesn't have his new chair yet, so we went back to his room and the CNAs got him back in bed and dressed for the night. My nephew came by just about the time supper came. Kristi & I had to pick up her car that had been at the mechanic's for two weeks. My nephew stayed with Don while I took Kristi to get her car. About 8:30 my nephew left and Kristi and I began the nightly routine of getting Don ready for bed. We left him shortly before 9:00. Please keep praying!